Pipe wrench



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,953

V. ROSSI PIPE WRENCH Filed July 21, 1927 III 1 /0 all [I 5 I INVENTOR\lenomzio Rossz BY surww,1N-1,U,# W

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VENANZIO ROSSI, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

PIPE WRENCH.

Application filed July 21,

This invention relates to wrenches and particularly to pipe wrenches.

An object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench the jaws of whichmay be spread apart without the use of feed screws or the like to adaptsaid wrench to operatively e11- gage pipe or similarly shaped objectsconsiderablv varying in size.

Another object is to provide a pipe wrench comprising a handle and apair of jaws terminally carried by said handle and to employ a commonmeans to mount one aw for pivotal movement to and from the other and tomount the last named jaw for sliding movement transversely of thehandle.

A further object is to provide a pipe wrench comprising a pair of jawsone of which is pivoted for movement to and from the other. and tomaintain the pivotal jaw normally swung toward the other jaw by theaction of a spring upon the last named jaw.

Still another object is to provide for an instantaneous adjustment ofthe jaws of a wrench to adapt it to grip objects considerably varying insize.

These and various other objects the invention attains by theconstruction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view of the improved wrench in sideelevation.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 33 of Figure1.

In these views the reference character 1 designates a handle, whichtern'iinally carries a pair of co-acting wrench jaws 2 and 3 havingarcuate serrated edge J 2 and 3* for gripping a pipe 3 or the like. Thehandle extremity which mounts said jaws is formed with a terminallyrounded head 4, the forward edge of which is slidably engaged by therear edge of the jaw 2. The two jaws are mounted upon the head 4 by apair of sheet metal plates 5 of substantially triangular shape whichembrace said head and jaws, and overlap the slidably engaged edges ofthe head 4 and jaw 2. Said plates are pivotally secured to said head bya rivet 6 or the like and are secured to the jaw 2 by a bolt or the like7. Said plates project beyond the rounded end of the head 4 to embracethe jaw 3 which is pivoted upon said plates by a rivet r 8 or the like.The jaw 3 is of an arcuate form and projects at one side of its pivot 8in the 1927. Serial No. 207,382.

direction of the handle 1, being terminally formed with a thumb piece 9adjacent to the handle for actuating said projecting end portion towardthe handle, to thus space the jaws apart. At the other side of its pivot8, the jaw 3 curves adjacent to the jaw 2, project ing some distancebelow the latter. Between the central portions of the head 4 and the jaw2 there is formed a chamber 10 in which is coiled a spring 11,compressed between abutment members 12 and 13 which are respectivelyintegral with the head 4 and jaw Said spring tends to slide the jaw 2away from the rounded end of the head 4 and thereby acts tl'irough theplates 5 to swing the jaw S normally into proximity to the jaw 2. Therounded end of the head 4 forms a fulcrum member upon which the aw 3swings as described.

In the use of the described tool, when it is desired to spread the jaws2 and 3 apart, the operator exerts a pressure upon the thumb piece 9thus fulcruming the jaw 3 upon the head 4 and acting through the plates5 to draw the jaw 3 toward the fulcrum end of the head 4, compressingthe spring 11. \Vhen the tool is under working stress, as illustrated inFigure 2, the stress reaction upon the jaw 2 is in the direction ofexpansion of the spring 11 and consequently acts through the plates 5upon the aw 3 to swing the latter about the fulcrum end of the head 4toward the jaw 2 so as to grip the work more firmly. Thus the grip ofthe jaws upon the work increases proportionately to the force re-actingfrom the work upon the jaws. Preferably the abutment members 12 and 13are sen'ii-cylindrical and the edge faces of the jaw 2 and head 4,engaged by said members, are semi-cylindrically channeled to guide thejaw 2 in its sliding travel. It is of ,course to be understood that aslight play is afforded between the head 4 and the jaw 2 in a directiontransverse to their relative sliding permitting the slight arcuatemotion of the head 2 about the rivet 6 which is incidental to suchtravel.

The described mounting of the jaws permits a suflicient spreadingthereof to adapt the tool for use upon pipe or the like varyingconsiderably in size, and this adaptability is achieved in a very simplemanner with relatively few parts and without employment of feed screwsor similar mechanisms.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfil theobjects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is. susceptible to variation, modification and change withinthe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is 2 1. A wrench comprising a pair of co-acting jawmembers, a handle formed with a fulcrum upon an end portion thereof forone of said jaw members, and having an edge of said end portiontransverse to the length of said handle slidably interfitting with anedge of the other jaw member, a plate pivoted upon said end portion, andmeans separately pivoting said jaw members upon said plate, the planedetermined by the pivot mounting said plate upon the handle and by thepivot mounting the second jaw member upon said plates, extending inapproximate parallelism with the handle.

2. A wrench Comprising a handle having a projection upon an end portionthereof forming a fulcrum, a plate pivoted upon said end portion, a jawmember pivoted upon said plate and engaging said fulcrum, a coacting jawmember pivoted upon said plate. and a spring re-acting between saidsecond jaw member and said end portion of the handle to urge the secondaw member from said fulcrum, the second jaw member and said handlehaving portions forming abutments for said spring interfitting to guidethe second jaw member in a sliding travel transverse to the length ofthe handle.

3. A wrench comprising a handle formed with a fulcrum upon one endportion thereof, a plate pivoted upon said end portion, and a pair ofcoacting jaw members separately pivoted upon said plate one thereofbeing engageable with said fulcrum and the other having an engagementwith said handle maintaining the coacting relation of said jaw members.

4. A wrench comprising a handle formed with a fulcrum, upon one endportion thereof, a pair of plates copivotally mounted upon said endportion, one at each side thereof, and a pair of coacting jaw membersseparately pivoted upon and between said plates, one thereof beingengageable with said fulcrum and the other having an engagement withsaid handle maintaining the coacting relation of said jaw members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand.

VENANZIO ROSSI.

